Abstract
Objective: Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, has been used in Ayurvedic and indigenous medicinal preparations for various disease conditions since long time. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of Viwithan, a standardized proprietary extract from Ashwagandha roots, against airway-inflammation and oxidative stress modulation in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of inflammation.
 Methods: Allergic asthma was initiated in BALB/c mice by sensitizing with OVA on days 1 and 14, followed by intranasal challenge with OVA on days 27, 28, and 29. Mice were administered Viwithan (200 and 400 mg/kg) by oral gavage before challenge. Then, mice were evaluated for the presence of airway inflammation, production of allergen-specific cytokine response, lung pathology, and oxidative stress modulation.
 Results: The results showed that treatment with Viwithan attenuated OVA-induced lung inflammation in mice. Viwithan significantly attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and markedly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-10, and transforming growth factor-β1 in lung tissues. Viwithan treatment considerably reduced the lung weight in OVA-sensitized mice. Viwithan markedly attenuated the OVA-induced generation of reactive oxygen species in lung tissues.
 Conclusion: Together, these results suggested that Viwithan alleviates OVA-induced airway-inflammation and oxidative stress, highlighting the potential of standardized Ashwagandha extract as a useful therapeutic agent for pulmonary fibrosis management.
Highlights
Asthma is a complex and chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung tissue characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells, airway inflammation, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and mucus hypersecretion [1,2]
Viwithan administration ameliorates OVA-induced lung injury by suppressing pulmonary fibrosis in mice There was no significant difference in body weight observed in all the treatment groups following the OVA-challenge compared with the control group
Viwithan reduced the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) BALF was collected 24 h after the last OVA-challenge; the effect of Viwithan on OVA-induced total cells and leukocytes was evaluated in BALF
Summary
Asthma is a complex and chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung tissue characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells, airway inflammation, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and mucus hypersecretion [1,2]. The incidence and prevalence of asthma is rapidly increasing around the world and it has become a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries [3]. A few patients suffering from airway inflammation develop honeycomb lung and suffer mortality due to the irreversible loss of pulmonary function [4]. Airway inflammation results in the upregulation of a large variety of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the lungs, thereby causing oxidative damage to the airways. Eosinophils are well known for their contribution to inflammation in airway disorders through the release of ROS and specific granules [6]. Recent research has been focusing on exploration of various drugs for the treatment of airway inflammation; they are not effective and more often accompanied by adverse side effects during long-term treatment [7]
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